Fast Retailing
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese retail holding company
. In addition to its primary subsidiary
Uniqlo
, it owns several other brands, including Aspesi, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Foot Park, g.u.
, Princess Tam-Tam and National Standard.
In 1984, Ogori Shoji Co., Ltd., which ran a menswear store in Yamaguchi Prefecture
’s Ube
City, opened a new casual wear store under the name of Unique Clothing Warehouse in Hiroshima
City. This was the forebear of Uniqlo
.
In September 1991, Ogori Shoji Co., Ltd. changed its name to Fast Retailing
Co., Ltd., and was listed on the Hiroshima Stock Exchange in July 1994.
In in February 1999, Fast Retailing was listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The company also owns the American brand Theory
; Fast Retailing acquired "an equity stake in Link Theory Holdings Co Ltd, the marketer of the Theory
and Helmut Lang
apparel brands, in 2004". It acquired the rest of the company in 2009.
In 2007, Fast Retailing unsuccessfully offered a bid of $900 million for Barneys New York
department store
to the Jones Apparel Group
.
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
. In addition to its primary subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
Uniqlo
UNIQLO
is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.The company was originally a division of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.. On November 1, 2005, it was restructured as a separate wholly owned subsidiary called Uniqlo Co., Ltd. , which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock...
, it owns several other brands, including Aspesi, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Foot Park, g.u.
G.u.
is a Japanese discount casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer, with 65 stores across the country. It is owned by the company Fast Retailing, which is better known as the owner of the retail chain Uniqlo. The name is a pun of the word , meaning free from high cost clothing. Its signature...
, Princess Tam-Tam and National Standard.
In 1984, Ogori Shoji Co., Ltd., which ran a menswear store in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamaguchi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi, in the center of the prefecture. The largest city, however, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
’s Ube
Ube
Dioscorea alata, known as purple yam and many other names, is a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable, that is bright lavender in color. It is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato . With its origins in the Asian tropics, D...
City, opened a new casual wear store under the name of Unique Clothing Warehouse in Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
City. This was the forebear of Uniqlo
UNIQLO
is a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer.The company was originally a division of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.. On November 1, 2005, it was restructured as a separate wholly owned subsidiary called Uniqlo Co., Ltd. , which is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock...
.
In September 1991, Ogori Shoji Co., Ltd. changed its name to Fast Retailing
Fast Retailing
is a Japanese retail holding company. In addition to its primary subsidiary Uniqlo, it owns several other brands, including Aspesi, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Foot Park, g.u., Princess Tam-Tam and National Standard....
Co., Ltd., and was listed on the Hiroshima Stock Exchange in July 1994.
In in February 1999, Fast Retailing was listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
The company also owns the American brand Theory
Theory (brand)
Theory is a New York-based men's and women's contemporary fashion label known for its clean-line and luxuriously simple clothes and accessories. Theory merchandise is sold through signature Theory stores and upscale retailers around the world...
; Fast Retailing acquired "an equity stake in Link Theory Holdings Co Ltd, the marketer of the Theory
Theory (brand)
Theory is a New York-based men's and women's contemporary fashion label known for its clean-line and luxuriously simple clothes and accessories. Theory merchandise is sold through signature Theory stores and upscale retailers around the world...
and Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang (fashion brand)
The Helmut Lang fashion brand was created by Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang in 1986. One of fashion’s most independent and visionary minds, Helmut Lang’s utilitarian designs came to define the 90’s...
apparel brands, in 2004". It acquired the rest of the company in 2009.
In 2007, Fast Retailing unsuccessfully offered a bid of $900 million for Barneys New York
Barneys New York
Barneys New York is a chain of luxury department stores headquartered in New York City. The chain owns large stores in New York City, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, and smaller stores in other locations across the United States.Brands sold include...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
to the Jones Apparel Group
Jones Apparel Group
The Jones Group, Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is an American designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded clothing, shoes and accessories. Its headquarters are in New York City. The company also markets directly to consumers through their chain of specialty retail and value-based stores...
.